Wallace Street, Virginia City, Montana's main thoroughfare (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

An embezzlement case and legislative efforts to remove its funding have complicated the financial picture for the Montana Heritage Commission and called its viability into question, its interim director said late last week, stating they were in “dark days.”

As a result, the commission is looking into lease contracts for private businesses operating at the site. The new lease terms have businesses giving 15% of their gross revenue to the state, a departure from previous contracts the commission says are inconsistent.

The Montana Heritage Commission was created to manage historic properties in the state, including Virginia City and Reeder’s Alley in Helena. Virginia City started of

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